THE DIY REVOLUTION: JAHARN QUINN ON HANDMADE LIVING AND UPCYCLED STYLE
By Nicole Fuge
Creative powerhouse and slow-living advocate Jaharn Quinn has built a world rooted in texture, sustainability, and soulful design. From humble beginnings hand-sewing thrifted finds to building a brand that champions conscious creativity, Jaharn is leading a quiet DIY revolution; one painted shelf and salvaged side table at a time.
Have you always been a hands-on, crafty person, even as a child? Or did it come later in life?
Yes, I've always loved being creative and making things with my hands. As a child I loved paper; I collected stationery, pens, notebooks and made my own recycled paper using a paper making kit my parents gave me. I used to press flowers and I also loved scrapbooking, which I got back into last year. I am still very much in love with paper and keep all my diaries, notebooks and scrapbooks. They're filled with words, sketches, fabrics, memories, ideas, photos and lots more. I always have a notebook on me and I find it a very therapeutic way to release my ideas so I have the space to come up with new ones.
Can you tell us a little about your journey into DIY and upcycling, was there a turning point or moment of inspiration that sparked it all?
When school finished for the day I caught the bus into Brisbane's CBD and would have about 30 minutes to kill before my next bus took me home, so if I wasn't grabbing some food with my friends, you would find me in a charity shop that was close by. I loved perusing the racks, the thrill of the unknown, while hoping to find diamond in the rough. It's such an exciting feeling and very addictive. I had a part time job and a little bit of money to buy something occasionally and often the pieces wouldn't fit perfectly, but I was still determined to make them work, so I would take them home and taught myself how to hand sew. You'd also be surprised how effective tying knots in fabric can be as a way to upcycle clothing!
While living and working in Brisbane in my early twenties, I started thrifting second-hand clothing I knew had potential, even if they didn’t fit me or suit my personal style. I would give them to my friends and quickly they were asking me to look for specific pieces. It was wonderful! I became known for my knack for spotting overlooked items with great potential and became obsessed with the affordability and sustainability aspect of sourcing and buying second-hand. Before I knew it, I had created a thriving, online business called Vintage Lover.
I continued the business when I moved to London for work and also began sharing upcycling and DIY fashion tutorials on my website. I spent my weekends trawling through thrift shops, car boot (trunk) sales and markets, finding second-hand and vintage clothes to upcycle and resell. I often had to replace buttons, cinch in a waist or shorten a hem until each item was ready for its new home. I deconstructed jackets, added ribbon, lace and rope to garments, and turned dresses into two-piece sets. I eventually moved back to Australia and closed my online retail business, but my love for thrifting and upcycling never went away.
Your work has such a distinctive energy. How would you describe your design philosophy in your own words?
That is so nice of you to say, thank you! What I love most about upcycling furniture is that it can open up a world of sustainable design possibilities, and my work is always steeped in sustainability and simplicity, with a splash of colour. It’s about making conscious decisions when furnishing your home.
Your spaces have a calm, grounded energy. What does home mean to you?
Home is where I feel calm, content, happy and safe. It's where I am my happiest and most creative. But at the end of the day, home is about being with my husband, Jason and my kids, Dusty and Celeste. We could be anywhere in the world and as long as they're with me, I feel at home.
Where do you find your inspiration?
For me, upcycling is a process that unfolds one step at a time. Each project is unique and the outcome is always different; I find the process very exciting, challenging and rewarding. It gives me a lot of joy and satisfaction. I am inspired by so many things; nature, furniture design, travel, old craft books and craft magazines, interior design, fashion. But I also always look past the obvious and more towards the unexpected.
What materials are you loving at the moment? Any current obsessions?
My use of materials is very much lead by what (furniture and decor) I find at a charity shop, tip shop or on the side of the road. From there, I'll spend time coming up with a creative way to breathe new life into it using what I already have or I'll source what I need, secondhand where possible. Because of this, I try not to fall into the trap of trends or "it" materials, but instead, create in my own lane and use the materials I think are best suited for the project at hand.
You’ve got such an eye for texture and tone. How do you approach colour in your projects?
I used to struggle choosing colours, a lot. And it was because I was using colours that I thought other people would like. However, over two years ago I came across a beautiful colour called Indian Red, which is a deep rich burgundy. It wasn't a colour people in my industry were using, but I knew there was something special about it so I made this Wavy Shelf. Since then I have seen this colour explode everywhere (fashion brands, too!) and I have seen so many other creators use it around the world (it seems to be having a moment in France amongst my peers at the moment). I keep using it and wearing it… can't stop, won't stop! Burgundy, along with dusty blue, cherry red, chocolate brown and butter yellow are my favourite colours, and I feature these colours in my projects a lot, so it's exciting to see people starting to use them, too.
For someone just starting out with upcycling, what’s a beginner-friendly project you’d recommend?
Oooh I've got a few in my book that would be perfect! My Textured Vase would be a great place to start. You only need a few simple materials and a thrifted vase.
Are there a few key tools or materials every DIY-lover should have in their toolkit?
I share my Upcycling Toolkit in my book, but if I had to choose a handful of tools I'd say a paint brush, paint roller, drill, sander and jigsaw.
How do you see the future of DIY evolving, especially as more people lean into slow, intentional living?
I have already seen it evolve away from hard and fast trends we saw during Covid and a couple of years after that. For me, it's about creating elevated and intentional pieces that stand the test of time. I've also spent the last few years working hard to bring more longevity and quality to my projects, rather than leaning into trends. I like to do my own thing, no matter what anyone else thinks, says or does, so I just hope people feel inspired to change the way they think about furnishing their homes after seeing what I thrift and upcycle.
What is a dream project you haven’t done yet?
We already live in our dream house by the beach here in Noosa, but I'd love to tackle a home renovation one day. Never say never, but for now, it's just a dream.
MUSE PAPER
ISSUE 06